Beneficiaries at Matimba Heights Flats in Mamelodi East say unaddressed structural defects and severe water leaks leave them living in unsafe conditions.

The DA Gauteng North regional deputy chairperson, Ofentse Madzebatela, said the windows at the flats are falling out, and the roofs and water pipes are leaking, affecting the structural integrity of residents’ homes.

Madzebatela said DA Gauteng will table questions to both the MEC for Human Settlements, Tasneen Motara, and the MEC for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Jacob Mamabolo, in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature to determine when a new contractor will be appointed to fix the shoddy workmanship.

Repair process stalls after power shift

According to Madzebatela, during a recent oversight inspection, residents reported being hastily moved into the flats shortly before the 2021 municipal elections despite the poor workmanship.

At the time, residents were promised that the Gauteng provincial government would send contractors to resolve the existing issues.

In 2023, the DA initiated a process to assess defects at the housing development by appointing a contractor to identify necessary repairs.

However, Madzebatela said that after the DA was ousted, the incoming ANC and ActionSA coalition appeared to have halted the process, and the contractor never returned to address the problems, leaving residents in deteriorating conditions.

He said DA Gauteng is committed to ensuring residents across the province receive housing that allows them to live in dignified conditions.

“We will vet all contractors to ensure that they can complete the project on time and within budget. Incompetent contractors will have their services terminated immediately and be blacklisted from future government work,” he said.

Residents fear building collapse

Beneficiaries have complained for years that nothing has been done to resolve the issues.

In 2023, beneficiary Rich Chauke complained that when it rained, leaks occurred everywhere.

Chauke said the matter was reported to the Tshwane metro, explaining that residents had been experiencing water leaks in almost all units since moving in during February 2020.

“Everyone in the building has a water leak problem from the rooftop, trapdoors, ceiling, floor, windows and door frames,” he said, claiming everything is falling apart.

“We are living in fear because the building is no longer safe and it might collapse from the rain at any time,” said Chauke.

Rekord reached out to the Tshwane metro for comment, but had not received a reply by the time of publication.

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